Gottardo Aldighieri

Gottardo Aldighieri

Italian opera singer, baritone
Date of Birth: 06.01.1824
Country: France

Content:
  1. Biography of Gottardo Aldighieri
  2. Gottardo Aldighieri passed away in Verona in 1906.

Biography of Gottardo Aldighieri

Gottardo Aldighieri was an Italian operatic baritone. He actively performed in opera theaters in Italy from 1858 to 1885. Known for his incredibly powerful and beautiful voice, he was a sought-after guest in the country's best operas. While primarily performing as a baritone, Aldighieri's extensive vocal range allowed him to play tenor roles when needed. It was Aldighieri to whom composer Luigi Arditi dedicated his legendary waltz "Il bacio".

Aldighieri was born in Lazise, Verona. He studied the secrets of vocal mastery with Domenico Foroni in Verona and Francesco Lamperti in Milan. He made his opera debut in 1858 at the Teatro Nuovo di Novara, performing as Germont in Giuseppe Verdi's "La Traviata". Over the next two years, Aldighieri primarily performed in smaller Italian theaters. In 1861, he managed to break through to La Scala, where he played Nabucco in Verdi's opera of the same name, with his wife Maria Spezia-Aldighieri playing the role of Abigaille.

In 1862, Aldighieri linked his career with the Teatro di San Carlo. There, he performed in the world premieres of Ernesto Viceconte's "Luisa Strozzi," Vincenzo Moscuzza's "Don Carlo," and Enrico Bevignani's "Caterina Blum." He also played roles in local premieres of well-known operas such as Giacomo Meyerbeer's "Les Huguenots," Verdi's "Un ballo in maschera," and Daniel Auber's "La muette de Portici." In the 1860s, Aldighieri actively performed in major opera theaters throughout Italy. He returned to Teatro di San Carlo in 1869 to play Raoul in the world premiere of "Gabriella di Vergy."

In the 1870s, Aldighieri continued to perform energetically, receiving regular invitations to various cities in Italy. In 1872, he sang as Pharaoh in "Mosè in Egitto" and as Wolfram in Richard Wagner's "Tannhäuser." The same year, he returned to Teatro di San Carlo to play Germain in the world premiere of "Manfredo" by Errico Petrella and a part in "Selvaggia" by Viceconti. In 1873, Aldighieri returned to Bologna to perform the title role in Rossini's "William Tell" and personally create the role of Antonio in Ciro Pinsuti's "Il mercante di Venezia." In the same year, he sang at the Teatro Apollo in Rome in the world premiere of Giuseppe Libani's "Il Conte Verde." Just a year later, Aldighieri returned to the Apollo to perform the title role in Mozart's "Don Giovanni."

In 1875 and 1876, Aldighieri spent his time in Milan at La Scala, primarily singing in Verdi's operas. In 1875, he was also invited to Teatro Costanzi in Rome to play the role of Amonasro in "Aida." In 1879, the baritone returned to Teatro di San Carlo. His final appearance on the opera stage was in 1885 as Alfonso in Donizetti's "La favorita."

Gottardo Aldighieri passed away in Verona in 1906.

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